An area for discussion of problems with pests and predators. WARNING: People are discussing problems with predators, that includes things such as fox and bird of prey attack. Such posts may not be nice viewing, but are acceptable.

Yesterday I lost one of my three cocks to a fox. When the guinea fowl and bantams started yelling, it was too late. I was at the bottom of a hole, and by the time I'd clambered out & got to the top of the garden, the dogs had already gone off in pursuit.
Today I heard he crows yellng their warning from the top of the garden, went to investigate, and sure enough, Fox on his way down to see if her could pick off another bird. Bantams and Guinea Fowl were elsewhere in the garden & dogs out for a walk, so crows aren't all bad. I've referred before to them 'shouting' a fox through the forest, and they really do.
We've got a plague of rabbits that the fox is more than welcome to take.

Well said I have mentioned before its all about balance crows also eat millions of bugs and grubs that damage crops there are negatives they do occasionally eat your eggs and steal unprotected chicks and do damage some crops. By all means shoot or trap problem animals but the wholesale slaughter of crows just because they are crows is wrong.
other examples of where we unbalance things are, Truly wild and weary foxes (Rabbit control and occasional problem) urban foxes fear of humans gone( big problem), A few cats ( nice pet and good for pest control) 1000s of cats (big problem) I could go on but I have probably upset the terminally offended already

Unfortunately, crows do far more damage to young crops than "the millions of bugs and grubs they eat". Balance might have been the appropriate word thousands of years ago, but not since humans began farming. For the first time ever, I have crows visiting my hen pens in the evenings - there will be a shotgun-wielding husband or son waiting for them next time.

nickyc wrote:The only good crow is a dead crow. They nick the eggs, they'll eat the chicks if they're not protected and they're a downright pest. They've got no redeeming features in my book!!

That's a sad view to have, I am willing to shoot problem crows and foxes and trap other pests but to exterminate a species because of our mistakes is just . Passing the blame for our cockups on to others seems to be a human trait.

Lindsay wrote:Unfortunately, crows do far more damage to young crops than "the millions of bugs and grubs they eat". Balance might have been the appropriate word thousands of years ago, but not since humans began farming. For the first time ever, I have crows visiting my hen pens in the evenings - there will be a shotgun-wielding husband or son waiting for them next time.

I did say it was about balance and if we can not maintain at least some of that balance we will find ourselves in a cul-de-sac with no other option and going nowhere

We've lots of crows, jackdaws and rooks and sea gulls and b***dy magpies and wood pigeons. Ive not known the crows to be much of a problem but i can make a pretty good guess that it was a crow which dropped a golf ball through the roof light in my big shed. They collect golf balls on the ex pitch and putt next door, they even dip them in the water troughs to see if they can soften them up .